Mark Dennis to take on 980m Dash at Kupunda

Big weekend of Harness Racing in South Australia this week commencing with heats of the Mount Gambier Gold Cup preludes with eight of the horses from the preludes qualifying for the $12,000 Cup on January 25. The Cup is a standing start this year with for C1 to C5 class pacers under special handicapping conditions.

Also on the card is the $6,500 Mount Gambier Trotters Cup which has drawn a small be talented field including two runners from the Chris Lang stable in Lysenko who recently won a Monte race at Globe Derby and Andy's Favourite.

Action then swings to headquarters on Saturday night with the first appearance of the juvenile pacers in the Nevele R Stud 2yo Pace with seven runners lining up. Six of them are facing the starter for the first time with only Waitpinga Tiger, who raced out of his class at Victor Harbour on Boxing Day has graced the race track before.

The other race of interest will a heat of the SA Young Drivers Series with the state's best young talent on show.

Kupunda will host its first meeting of the season Sunday with a C5 and better Dash to be run over 980 meters. Included in this field is Mark Dennis who is coming off a start in the SA Cup last week.

The six event program commences at 5.23pm with the final race at 7.27pm.